Newcastle United's managing director, Derek Llambias, has said that Alan Shearer was the only person approached for the job of trying to keep the club in the Premier League. After last Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Chelsea in Shearer's first match in charge, the club are three points adrift of safety with seven games left.

Llambias said: "We had to weigh up the situation. We were in a position where we had to make a move and Alan was the best move. He was the only person we approached, we felt that was our only choice. He has made a difference. He's a straight talker, I like that about him. Alan has got Iain Dowie with him and that's a good balance, but Alan is making the decisions. Iain is assisting on the football side of it and the energy within the training camp. I'm really encouraged by it all."

What will really encourage Shearer, Llambias and anyone else linked with the club is a positive result from Saturday's crucial game at Stoke City. Shearer's arrival has lifted spirits on Tyneside and a crowd of around 7,500 turned out to watch an open training session at St James' Park yesterday.

Llambias said: "It's been a tremendous boost for everybody in the town and around the stadium. The players are very upbeat and looking forward to the next game." However, that optimism will soon evaporate if a meagre points total of 29 does not start improving quickly. Shearer and Dowie are leaving nothing to chance and have been at the training ground until 7pm each day.

However, they travelled to Anfield last night to run the rule over Liverpool, who Newcastle face on 2 May, in their Champions League quarter-final clash with Chelsea.

Dowie said: "All we want to do is make sure this town has a top-flight team. Nothing else matters, not one individual, it's just keeping the team up. Alan is a football man – he's not here as a figurehead, he's here to do it right and that should be credited. It was easy for him to stay where he was, but he has come here and he wants to make a change." PA